Charleston School of Law students recently toured the South Carolina Ports Wando Welch Container Terminal in Charleston. The tour is designed to give law students an opportunity to experience the transportation/shipping/global trade world in which the niche legal specialty of admiralty and maritime law operates.

South Carolina Ports Authority President and CEO Barbara Melvin spoke to the law students about the Ports mission to “develop and facilitates waterborne commerce to meet the current and future needs of its customers, and for the economic benefit of the citizens and businesses of South Carolina.”

In addition, Charleston Law students heard about the role of U.S. Customs in regulating and facilitating international trade.

“I make a point to invite leaders from various sectors of the container shipping industry, including vessel and terminal operators, trucking and rail operators, customs brokers and freight forwarders, and representatives of the US Coast Guard and US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), to speak to the class on their respective roles in the industry,” said Charleston Law adjunct Professor Gordon Schreck.

Professor Schreck teaches Intermodal Container Transportation Law, an elective course at the Law School.

l-r. Gordon Schreck (Charleston School of Law), Dean Larry Cunningham (Charleston School of Law), Jacob Mayer (CBP Port Director, Area Port of Charleston), Christopher C. Smith, Esq. (Assistant Chief Counsel – Atlanta Office, CBP), and Ms. Tammy Najavian (CBP, DC Headquarters)